Bad Third Inning Costs Robbie Ray, Diamondbacks

One bad inning doomed Robbie Ray and the Diamondbacks in what was otherwise another good start. Photo Courtesy of USA Today Sports.

The Diamondbacks made it interesting in the 9th inning, but the Dodgers took the finale 4-3 and the series in front of 20,277 at Chase Field on Wednesday night.

After putting up 10 runs on the board to take the first game of the series, everybody thought maybe this is the week that the Dbacks take advantage of an N.L. West rival and climb back in the divison race.

Instead, the Dodgers jumped out to early leads in the next 2 games, and the Snakes (37-41) dropped one game in the standings and are now 7 back of L.A. (45-35).

After going 8-9 against N.L. West opponents in June, this team has to take advantage of games against their rivals if they want to finally reach the elusive .500 mark and at least contend for a wild card spot.

The Dodgers jumped out to a quick  lead against Dbacks starter Robbie Ray in the 1st inning.

Center fielder Enrique Hernandez led off the game with a triple after Dbacks RF Yasmany Tomas let the ball roll to the wall.

Dbacks killer Howie Kendrick immediately drove him in with a sacrifice fly to right and just like that it was 1-0.

The Diamondbacks put the first 2 men on base in the bottom half of the 1st thanks to Nick Ahmed and A.J. Pollock singles, but the middle of the order couldn’t get the job done.

The big damage in the game came in the Dodger half of the 3rd. They sent 8 men to the plate scoring 3 runs on 4 hits and L.A was comfortably ahead.

It started with a A.J. Ellis leadoff double. After Brett Anderson struck out trying to bunt Ellis over, Hernandez doubled and scored Ellis to make it 2-0 Dodgers.

Kendrick hurt the Diamondbacks once again singling home Hernandez to make it 3-0. The Dodgers weren’t done just yet.

Justin Turner who came into the game hitting .316 doubled and scored Kendrick to make it 4-0.

Yasiel Puig walked to put runners on first and second before 2 flyouts by Scott Van Slyke and Alexander Guerrero ended the threat.

It ended up being a 30 plus pitch inning for Ray, and would ultimately be the difference maker in the game.

Besides the one bad inning, Ray once again pitched well for the Diamondbacks and gave them a chance to rally. Ray ended up going 6 innings allowing 4 runs all earned with 6 strikeouts on a season high 7 hits.

Dodgers starter Brett Anderson blanked the Diamondbacks offense through the first 5 innings.

In the 6th with one out, second baseman Aaron Hill homered to right on a hanging breaking ball to make it 4-1.

To say Hill needed that home run would be an understatement. Prior to that long ball, he only had 1 extra base hit in his previous thirty three plate appearances.

Hill would add another RBI in the 8th on a sac fly scoring Pollock just missing another home run to make it 4-2.

The Dbacks made things interesting in the 9th when David Peralta hit a solo homer to right off of Dodger closer Kenley Jansen to make it 4-3 but it wouldn’t be enough.

Players of the Game:

Enrique Hernadez: 3 for 5, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B

Brett Anderson: 7 IP, 1 R 1 ER

The last place Rockies come to Chase Field for 4 starting tonight. Chris Rusin faces Jeremy Hellickson at 6:40 PM.